Method and system for self-regulating content download

ABSTRACT

A method, system and mobile application for self-regulating content downloads to mobile communication devices is disclosed herein. The invention determines if a network connection to a mobile communication device is a WiFi connection or a cellular connection. The invention utilizes the performance characteristics and the type of network identified to select the quality and the quantity of DLC to download onto the mobile communication device from the content server.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/720,398, filed on Oct. 31, 2012, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to wireless content transfers toa mobile communication device. More specifically, the present inventionrelates to a method and system for a mobile communication device to selfregulate content downloads.

2. Description of the Related Art

Most mobile communication devices are able receive content downloadsover a cellular network or over a WiFi network. The quality, speed andpricing can vary depending on the network.

General definitions for terms utilized in the pertinent art are setforth below.

APP is a software application for a mobile phone such as a smart phone.

Application Programming Interface (API) is a collection of computersoftware code, usually a set of class definitions, that can perform aset of related complex tasks, but has a limited set of controls that maybe manipulated by other software-code entities. The set of controls isdeliberately limited for the sake of clarity and ease of use, so thatprogrammers do not have to work with the detail contained within thegiven API itself.

BLUETOOTH technology is a standard short range radio link that operatesin the unlicensed 2.4 gigaHertz band.

Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) is a spread spectrumcommunication system used in second generation and third generationcellular networks, and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a widely-implemented strategyfor managing a company's interactions with customers, clients and salesprospects. CRM involves using technology to organize, automate, andsynchronize business processes and the like—principally salesactivities, but also business processes and the like for marketing,customer service and technical support.

Direct Inward Dialing (“DID”) involves a carrier providing one or moretrunk lines to a customer for connection to the customer's privatebranch exchange (“PBX”) and a range of telephone lines are allocated tothis line.

FTP or File Transfer Protocol is a protocol for moving files over theInternet from one computer to another.

GSM, Global System for Mobile Communications is a second generationdigital cellular network.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) is a set of conventions forcontrolling the transfer of information via the Internet from a webserver computer to a client computer, and also from a client computer toa web server, and Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (“HTTPS”) is acommunications protocol for secure communication via a network from aweb server computer to a client computer, and also from a clientcomputer to a web server by at a minimum verifying the authenticity of aweb site.

Internet is the worldwide, decentralized totality of server computersand data-transmission paths which can supply information to a connectedand browser-equipped client computer, and can receive and forwardinformation entered from the client computer.

Interactive voice response (“IVR”) is a telephone technology in which auser uses a phone to interact with a database to acquire information.

Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) is a next generation communication network.

Multimedia messaging service (“MMS”) communication is a communicationtransmitted to and from a mobile phone that includes a multimediacontent such as a digital photograph (JPEG), videos, and the like.

Mobile Originated (“MO”) is a text message that is sent from a mobilephone.

Mobile Terminated (“MT”) is a text message that is sent to a mobilephone.

Public Switch Telephone Network (“PSTN”) is a telecommunication systemin which networks are inter-connected to allow telephones to communicatewith each other throughout the world.

Short Message Service (“SMS”) is text messaging communication using amobile phone or other device to send messages up to 160 characters inlength.

Short message peer-to-peer (“SMPP”) is a telecommunications protocol forexchanging SMS messages between SMS peer entities.

Simple object access protocol (“SOAP”) is a computer network protocolfor exchanging information.

Simple mail transfer protocol (“SMTP”) is a delivery protocol for email.

A SMS aggregator is an entity that provides connectivity with a mobilephone carrier by offering a SMS gateway to send and receive messages andother digital content.

A SMS Gateway is used to send text messages with or without a mobilephone, and is used by aggregators to forward text messages to mobilephones.

Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) of 1991 restricts the use ofSMS text messages received by mobile phones, and SMS messages sentwithout a consumer's consent can violate the TCPA.

Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) is a protocol formoving files over the Internet.

Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) relates to communicationstransmitted over the Internet such as SKYPE.

URL or Uniform Resource Locator is an address on the World Wide Web.

User Interface or UI is the junction between a user and a computerprogram. An interface is a set of commands or menus through which a usercommunicates with a program. A command driven interface is one in whichthe user enter commands. A menu-driven interface is one in which theuser selects command choices from various menus displayed on the screen.

Web-Browser is a complex software program, resident in a clientcomputer, that is capable of loading and displaying text and images andexhibiting behaviors as encoded in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) fromthe Internet, and also from the client computer's memory. Major browsersinclude MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, NETSCAPE, APPLE SAFARI, MOZILLAFIREFOX, and OPERA.

Web-Server is a computer able to simultaneously manage many Internetinformation-exchange processes at the same time. Normally, servercomputers are more powerful than client computers, and areadministratively and/or geographically centralized. An interactive-forminformation-collection process generally is controlled from a servercomputer, to which the sponsor of the process has access.

Wireless Application Protocol (“WAP”) is an open, global specificationthat empowers users with mobile wireless communication devices (such asmobile phones) to easily access data and to interact with Websites overthe Internet through such mobile wireless communication device. WAPworks with most wireless communication networks such as CDPD, CDMA, GSM,PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, reflex, iDEN, TETRA, DECT, DataTAC, Mobitex andGRPS. WAP can be built on most operating systems including PalmOS,WINDOWS, CE, FLEXOS, OS/9, JavaOS and others.

WAP Push is defined as an encoded WAP content message delivered (pushed)to a mobile communication device which includes a link to a WAP address.

The prior art has failed to provide a means for a mobile communicationdevice to self regulate content downloads.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is provides a solution to the problem. The presentinvention provides for self-regulating application content downloads.

One aspect of the present invention is a system for self-regulatingapplication content downloads. The system includes a content server,which has static and dynamic content. The server is configured to servedownloadable content (DLC) over a network. The system also includes amobile communication device. The mobile device has a resident mobileapplication configured to manage storing and displaying the DLC on thedevice. The application is configured to determine if the mobile deviceis connected to a WiFI network or a cellular network, and also todetermine the network's performance characteristics, such as delay andthroughput. The application is also configured to utilize theperformance characteristics and the type of network determined to selectthe quality and the quantity of DLC to download onto the mobile devicefrom the content server.

The mobile communication device is preferably a mobile phone or a tabletcomputer.

If the application determines that the connected network is a WiFinetwork, the application preferably downloads all available DLC in thehighest quality available from the content server.

Alternatively, if the application determines that the connected networkis a WiFi network, the application downloads just the content that theuser requests in the highest quality available.

Alternatively, if the application determines that the connected networkis a WiFi network, the application downloads just the content that theuser requests at the fastest speed possible.

Alternatively, if the application determines that the connected networkis a WiFi network, the application downloads just the content based onuser navigation patterns, which is personalized content.

If the application determines that the connected network is a cellularnetwork, the application preferably downloads only the DLC that the userrequests.

Alternatively, if the application determines that the connected networkis a cellular network, the application downloads content based on usernavigation patterns, which is personalized content.

Alternatively, if the application determines that the connected networkis a cellular network, the application downloads just the lower qualitycontent available.

Alternatively, if the application determines that the connected networkis a cellular network, the application downloads just the lower qualitypersonalized content that the user requests.

Another aspect of the present invention is a mobile communicationdevice. The mobile communication device includes an antenna forreceiving DLC over a network from a service. The mobile communicationdevice also includes a mobile resident application on the mobile device.The application is configured to manage the storing and displaying ofDLC, served by the service over a network, on the mobile device. Theapplication is also configured to determine if the mobile device isconnected to a WiFi network or a cellular network, and also to determinethe network's performance characteristics, such as delay and throughput.The application is also configured to utilize the performancecharacteristics and the type of network determined to select the qualityand the quantity of DLC to download onto the mobile device from theservice.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method forself-regulating application content downloads. The method includesconnecting a mobile communication device to a service over a wirelessnetwork. The mobile communication device includes a mobile residentapplication on the mobile device. The method also includes determiningif the wireless network is a WiFI network or a cellular network. Themethod also includes determining the network's performancecharacteristics, such as delay and throughput. The method also includesutilizing the performance characteristics and the type of networkdetermined to select the quality and the quantity of DLC to downloadonto the mobile device from the service.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a system forself-regulating application content downloads with an end-user control.The system includes a content service, which includes DLC. The serviceis configured to serve the DLC over a network. The system also includesa mobile communication device. The mobile device includes a residentmobile application configured to manage the DLC served by the contentservice over a network. The application is configured to determine ifthe mobile device is connected to a WiFI network or a cellular network,and also to determine the network's performance characteristics, such asdelay and throughput. The application is also configured to utilize theperformance characteristics and the type of network determined to allowan end-user to select the quality and the quantity of DLC to downloadonto the mobile device from the service.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a mobile communicationdevice. The mobile communication device includes an antenna forreceiving DLC over a network from a service. The mobile communicationdevice also includes a mobile resident application on the mobile device.The application is configured to manage the DLC served by the contentservice over a network. The application is also configured to determineif the mobile device is connected to a WiFi network or a cellularnetwork, and also to determine the network's performancecharacteristics, such as delay and throughput. The application is alsoconfigured to utilize the performance characteristics and the type ofnetwork determined to allow an end-user to select the quality and thequantity of DLC to download onto the mobile device from the service.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method forself-regulating application content downloads with an end-user control.The method includes connecting a mobile communication device to aservice over a wireless network. The mobile communication deviceincludes a mobile resident application on the mobile device. The methodalso includes determining if the wireless network is a WiFI network or acellular network. The method also includes determining the wirelessnetwork's performance characteristics, such as delay and throughput. Themethod also includes utilizing the performance characteristics and thetype of network determined to allow an end-user to select the qualityand the quantity of DLC to download onto the mobile device from theservice.

Having briefly described the present invention, the above and furtherobjects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by thoseskilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description ofthe invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for self-regulating applicationcontent downloads.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an end user obtaining downloads from a WiFinetwork at the highest quality and highest content.

FIG. 2A is an isolated view of a mobile phone with an application forself-regulating application content downloads operating in a highestquality and highest content WiFi download mode.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an end user obtaining downloads from acellular at the lowest quality and lowest content.

FIG. 3A is an isolated view of a mobile phone with an application forself-regulating application content downloads operating in a lowestquality and lowest content cellular network download mode.

FIG. 4 is a flow of a method for self-regulating application contentdownloads.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for self-regulating applicationcontent downloads with end user control.

FIG. 6 is an isolated view of a mobile phone with an application forself-regulating application content downloads operating in a mediumquality and highest quantity WiFi download mode.

FIG. 6A is an isolated view of a mobile phone with an application forself-regulating application content downloads operating in a mediumquality and medium quantity WiFi download mode.

FIG. 7 is an isolated view of a mobile phone with an application forself-regulating application content downloads operating in a mediumquality and lowest quantity cellular network download mode.

FIG. 7A is an isolated view of a mobile phone with an application forself-regulating application content downloads operating in a mediumquality and medium quantity cellular network download mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A system 100 for self regulating content downloads is shown in FIG. 1. Acontent server 40 comprises a database 45 of static content and dynamiccontent. The server 40, or service, is configured to serve downloadablecontent over a network to mobile communication devices 25 that have aresident application 75 for self-regulating content downloads. A firstend user 15 a is walking and can receive her content download over acellular network 70. Another end user 15 b at his desk in his officeobtains downloads over a WiFi network 60 through his company.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the content downloaded to the end user 15 athis desk over the WiFi 60 is of the highest quality and greatestquantity, as shown as content 31 on a display 30 of a mobilecommunication devices 25.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the content downloaded over the cellularnetwork 70 to the mobile phone 25 of the end user 15 walking down astreet is of the lowest quality and lowest quantity.

The mobile resident application 75 is able to determine whether thewireless network is WiFi or a cellular network using several methods.One method is to query the mobile communication device 25. The mobileresident application 75 determines if SSID (Service Set Identification)is utilized or if a MAC address is for a cellular radio or WiFi radio ofthe mobile communication device 25. Alternatively, the mobile residentapplication 75 determines the download speed (throughput) of thenetwork. The mobile resident application 75 samples the content downloadrate, preferably in a continuous manner, to determine the quality andquantity of content to be downloaded to the mobile communication device25. The mobile resident application 75 then directs the content to bedownloaded to the mobile communication device 25 in the most appropriatemanner based on the network download rate. For example, the mobileresident application 75 will determine that a LTE network download ratein the middle of the Las Vegas strip is higher than a DSL download rateat an end-user's home.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the level of content delivery over a WiFinetwork 60 varies from a medium quality and highest quantity WiFinetwork download mode, as shown 32 on a display 30, to a medium qualityand medium quantity WiFi network download mode, to a highest quality andhighest quantity WiFi network download mode, as shown 31 on a display30. Those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that other levelsof content delivery are possible for WiFi networks without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, if themobile application determines that the WiFi network is associated withthe mobile application (e.g., a casino application that is associatedwith a casino, and the WiFi network is at the casino), then the downloadis at the highest possible quality with minimal safeguards since theapplication recognizes the WiFi network.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A, the level of content delivery over thecellular network 70 varies from a medium quality and lowest quantitycellular network download mode, to a medium quality and medium quantitycellular network download mode, as shown 34 on a display 30, to a lowestquality and lowest quantity cellular network download mode, as shown 33on a display 30. Those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize thatother levels of content delivery are possible for cellular networkswithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

The mobile communication devices utilized with the present inventionpreferably include mobile phones, smartphones, tablet computers, PDAsand the like. Examples of smartphones include the IPHONE® smartphonefrom Apple, Inc., BLACKBERRY® smartphones from Research In Motion, theDROID® smartphone from Motorola Mobility Inc., and many more. Examplesof tablet computing devices include the IPAD® tablet from Apple Inc.,and the XOOM™ tablet from Motorola Mobility Inc.

A typical mobile communication device includes an accelerometer, a headphone, a microphone, a speak, a GPS chipset, a Bluetooth component, aWiFi component, a 3G/4G component, a BaseBand Processor (for radiocontrol), an applications processor, a JTAG (debugger, a SDRAM memory, aFlash memory, SIM card, LCD display, a camera, a power managementcircuit and a battery or power source.

Most of the interface descriptions preferably disclose use of at leastone communication protocol to establish handshaking or bi-directionalcommunications. These protocols preferably include but are not limitedto XML, HTTP, TCP/IP, Serial, UDP, FTP, Web Services, WAP, SMTP, SMPP,DTS, Stored Procedures, Import/Export, Global Positioning Triangulation,IM, SMS, MMS, GPRS and Flash. The databases used with the systempreferably include but are not limited to MSSQL, Access, MySQL,Progress, Oracle, DB2, Open Source DBs and others. Operating system usedwith the system preferably include Microsoft 2010, XP, Vista, 200oServer, 2003 Server, 2008 Server, Windows Mobile, Linux, Android, Unix,I series, AS 400 and Apple OS.

The underlying protocol at a server, is preferably Internet ProtocolSuite (Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”)), and thetransmission protocol to receive a file is preferably a file transferprotocol (“FTP”), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), Secure HypertextTransfer Protocol (“HTTPS”) or other similar protocols. The transmissionprotocol ranges from SIP to MGCP to FTP and beyond. The protocol at theserver is preferably HTTPS.

A mobile communication service provider (aka phone carrier) of thecustomer such as VERIZON, AT&T, SPRINT, T-MOBILE, and the like mobilecommunication service providers, provide the communication network forcommunication to the mobile communication device of the end user.

A flow chart for a method 1000 is shown in FIG. 4. At block 1001, amobile communication device, such as a tablet PC or a mobile phone, witha mobile application installed on it is connected to a service via awireless network. The application determines whether the wirelessnetwork is WiFi or a cellular network at block 1002. Then at block 1003,the application determines performance characteristics of the wirelessnetwork, such as, delay and throughput. The quality and quantity ofcontent to be downloaded onto the mobile device is then based on networkcongestion, packet loss handling, and other performance characteristicsand the type of wireless network connection, as shown at block 1004.

A flow chart for a method 2000 is shown in FIG. 5. At block 2001, amobile communication device, such as a tablet PC or a mobile phone, witha mobile application installed on it is connected to a service via awireless network. The application determines whether the wirelessnetwork is WiFi or a cellular network at block 2002. Then at block 2003,the application determines performance characteristics of the wirelessnetwork, such as, delay and throughput. The user then selects thequality and quantity of content to download onto the mobilecommunication device, based on the application's analysis of networkcongestion, packet loss handling, and other performance characteristicsand the type of wireless network connection, as shown at block 2004.

From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinentart will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention andwill readily understand that while the present invention has beendescribed in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and otherembodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changesmodification and substitutions of equivalents may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which isintended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in thefollowing appended claim. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention inwhich an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in thefollowing appended claims.

We claim as our invention:
 1. A system for self-regulating applicationcontent download, the system comprising: a content server comprisingstatic content and dynamic content, the server configured to servedownloadable content over a network; a mobile communication device, themobile communication device comprising a resident mobile application,the mobile application configured to manage the storage and display onthe mobile communication device downloadable content served by thecontent server over a network, the mobile application configured todetermine if the mobile communication device is connected to a WiFinetwork or a cellular network by determining if service setidentification is utilized or if a MAC address is utilized for theconnection between the wireless network and the mobile communicationdevice, the mobile application configured to determine a plurality ofperformance characteristics of the connected network comprising at leastdelay and throughput, and the mobile application configured to utilizethe plurality of performance characteristics and the type of connectednetwork to select downloadable content to download from the contentserver to the mobile communication device; wherein if the mobileapplication determines that the connected network is a WiFi network themobile application downloads all available downloadable content from thecontent server, and wherein if the mobile application determines thatthe connected network is a cellular network the mobile applicationdownloads only downloadable content requested by a user from the contentserver.
 2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the mobileapplication determines that the connected network is a cellular networkthe mobile application downloads only downloadable personalized contentfrom the content server.
 3. The system according to claim 1 wherein themobile application determines that the connected network is a WiFinetwork associated with the mobile application and the content downloadis downloaded at a highest throughput for the connection between theWiFi network and the mobile communication device.
 4. The systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the mobile application determines that theconnected network is a cellular network the mobile application downloadsonly downloadable personalized content from the content server requestedfrom the user.
 5. A mobile communication device comprising: an antennafor receiving downloadable content over a network from a service; and amobile application resident on the mobile communication device, themobile application configured to manage the storage and display on themobile communication device downloadable content served by the serviceover a network, the mobile application configured to determine if themobile communication device is connected to a WiFi network or a cellularnetwork by sampling a throughput of the network the mobile communicationdevice is connected to, the mobile application configured to determine aplurality of performance characteristics of the connected networkcomprising at least delay and throughput, and configured to utilize theplurality of performance characteristics and the type of connectednetwork to select the downloadable content to download from the serviceto the mobile communication device; wherein if the mobile applicationdetermines that the connected network is a WiFi network the mobileapplication downloads all available downloadable content from theservice, and wherein if the mobile application determines that theconnected network is a cellular network the mobile application downloadsonly downloadable content requested by a user from the service.
 6. Amethod for self-regulating application content download, the methodcomprising: connecting a mobile communication device to a service over awireless network, the mobile communication device comprising a residentmobile application; determining at the resident mobile application ifthe wireless network is a cellular network or a WiFi network bydetermining if service set identification is utilized or if a MACaddress is utilized for the connection between the wireless network andthe mobile communication device; determining at the resident mobileapplication a plurality of performance characteristics of the wirelessnetwork, the plurality of performance characteristics comprising atleast delay and throughput of the wireless network; and utilizing at theresident mobile application the plurality of performance characteristicsand the type of wireless network to select a downloadable content todownload from the service to the mobile communication device; wherein ifthe mobile application determines that the connected network is a WiFinetwork the mobile application downloads all available downloadablecontent from the service, and wherein if the mobile applicationdetermines that the connected network is a cellular network the mobileapplication downloads only downloadable content requested by a user fromthe service.
 7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the mobileapplication determines that the wireless network is a WiFi network themobile application downloads all available downloadable content from theservice.
 8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the mobileapplication determines that the wireless network is a cellular networkand the mobile application downloads only downloadable content requestedby a user from the service.
 9. The method according to claim 6 whereinthe mobile application determines that the wireless network is acellular network and the mobile application downloads only downloadablepersonalized content from the service.